POLICE in Dorking have praised the town’s Shopwatch scheme after it helped them catch two men trying to steal more than £1,000 of clothes from a High Street store.

Just after midday last Wednesday, three smartly dressed men walked into Marks and Spencer in St Martin’s Walk and picked up a large quantity of women’s clothing before leaving without paying.

They were seen getting into a blue Volvo, and quick-thinking employees from a nearby shop immediately alerted police via the Shopwatch radio system of the theft and the vehicle the suspects were travelling in.

The car was spotted at the Beaverbrook roundabout and three men were arrested.

Jamie Washbourne, 31, from Domonic Drive, London, and Daniel Furminger, 33, from Redcross Way, London, appeared at South East Surrey Magistrates' Court the following day and were sentenced to 150 hours' unpaid work after pleading guilty to the theft. The third man was released without charge.

Sergeant Peter Gunning-Stevenson said: “Shopwatch has been pivotal in assisting officers arrest a number of suspected shoplifters recently.

“In this latest case more than £1,100 worth of clothing was stolen, all of which was recovered and returned to Marks and Spencer.

“This result is a perfect example of how important Shopwatch is. The link the radios provide between stores in Dorking, and the partnership between those stores, CCTV operators and local officers on the ground, has yet again proved vital in arresting suspected shoplifters.”

If you are a shopkeeper and would like more information on the scheme, or are interested in joining Dorking Shopwatch, please contact the Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood team on 0845 125 2222.